SPRUCE GROVE - After a busy first day of the 2018 Alberta Cup in Spruce Grove, Edmonton Yellow and Central came away with two wins, while Edmonton Blue and Calgary South won their only games of the day.

In Pool A, both Edmonton Yellow and Central defeated Northwest and Calgary North, while Edmonton Blue and Calgary South won their games over Northeast and South, respectively.

Pool B teams will each play a pair of games on day two, while Pool A teams will each play just one. Round-robin play wraps up after day two, with the top two teams in each pool earning a spot in the Alberta Cup semi-finals.

Calgary South claimed bronze with a 2-1 overtime win over Edmonton Blue in the B Final. Earlier in the day, South defeated Calgary North 9-3 in the C Final, while Northwest scored with less than a minute left in overtime to beat Northeast 3-2 in the D Final.

Forward

All-Star Official

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – The St. Albert Slash became the first team in Esso Cup history to repeat as back-to-back champions, defeating the Saskatoon Stars 2-1 to win gold at Canada’s National Female Midget Championship.

“It was pretty amazing, nothing can beat it,” St. Albert Slash captain Tyra Meropoulis, of Edson, said of her feelings after the game. “Winning two in a row is unbelievable. It is such an amazing feeling.”

After suffering a 4-1 loss to the Stars in the preliminary round, the Slash rebounded in the championship game by opening the scoring with just under three minutes remaining in the first period. Late-period goals were the key to the team’s success, as St. Albert took a 2-0 lead with less than one minute remaining in the second period. The Stars cut the deficit in half 47 seconds into the third period, but could not find the back of net as time expired.

“[St. Albert] did a great job. An absolutely great job,” said Greg Slobodzian, head coach of the Saskatoon Stars. “We haven’t been pressured like that in a long time. Our girls didn’t know how to handle it at the beginning, but I thought we answered really well in the third period. It could have went either way."

Meropoulis led the Slash with one goal and one assist in the final, while veteran Madison Willan of Edmonton recorded the game-winning goal in the second period. Jayme Doyle of Calahoo also registered one assist in the game.

Goaltender Camryn Drever of Edmonton made 14 saves on her way to securing the win, while Mackenzie Butz of Sherwood Park earned player of the game honours for St. Albert.

SPRUCE GROVE - With both of their brothers taking part in the 2018 Alberta Cup, former Team Alberta forwards Peyton Krebs and Kirby Dach took in the action in Spruce Grove, and reflected on their time at the 2016 Alberta Cup, and their journey through the Team Alberta program.

Krebs suited up for Team South at the 2016 Alberta Cup, while Dach played for Edmonton Yellow. Both players were chosen in the WHL Draft the following week, Krebs first overall by the Kootenay Ice, and Dach second overall by the Saskatoon Blades. Krebs and Dach also played together for Team Alberta that year, winning the 2016 WHL Cup.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2018 Alberta Cup, click here.

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email info@hockeyalberta.ca.

SPRUCE GROVE - After another busy day of hockey at the 2018 Alberta Cup, round-robin play wrapped-up, and the standings are now set heading into Saturday.

After going undefeated (3-0-0) through round-robin play, Edmonton Yellow locked up first in Pool A. Central claimed the other semi-final spot, finishing 2-1, while Calgary North and Northwest finished third and fourth, respectively.

With a win and a loss on Friday, Calgary South finished at the top of Pool B. Edmonton Blue and South tied their final round-robin game to each finish 1-1-1, but Edmonton Blue clinched second place in Pool B by virtue of a tie-breaker, with Northeast coming in fourth.

Saturday kicks off with Northeast and Calgary North playing in the first C/D Semi-Final at 9:00 a.m., and Northwest and South in the other at 9:30 a.m. Calgary South and Central battle in Semi-Final One at 11:45 a.m., and Day Three closes out with the other Semi-Final game between Edmonton Yellow and Edmonton Blue at 2:15 p.m.

SPRUCE GROVE: Step behind the bench at the 2018 Alberta Cup with Edmonton Yellow Head Coach Alex Mandolidis during Edmonton’s final round-robin game against Central.

Edmonton Yellow won the game 8-3 and finished round-robin play 3-0 to clinch first place in Pool A.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2018 Alberta Cup, click here.

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email info@hockeyalberta.ca.

For more scores, stats and stories from the 2018 Alberta Cup, click here.

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email info@hockeyalberta.ca.

The teams will play in a four-day, tournament-format competition. The event also features an education seminar hosted by the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Full tournament results will be displayed on the score ticker at the top of both hockeyalberta.ca and abcup.ca. Schedules, stats and standings can also be found at abcup.ca. You can also follow along with the action on Twitter.

The Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top male players in Alberta. It is well attended by scouts as they prepare for the Western Hockey League’s bantam draft. In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, trainers and referees to be evaluated for future positions with the Team Alberta Program.

RED DEER - Orest Korbutt, a Life Member of Hockey Alberta, died on Friday, April 20 at the age of 81.

Orest had a long history of volunteer service to amateur hockey in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world. He served as the President of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Alberta) for six years, from 1980-1986. During his time as President, he established the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, a Scholarship program, and an Endowment Fund.

At the national level, Orest served six years on the Board of Directors with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and was instrumental in establishing the national medical and liability insurance program. Internationally, Orest was actively involved in exchange programs with the Japanese and Chinese Ice Hockey Federations that lasted for more than three decades.

At the local level in Edmonton with the Knights of Columbus association, he was instrumental in the purchase of their twin ice pad and helped oversee operations of the arena complex.

Outside of hockey, Orest was a leader with several organizations. He served as Chair of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Chair of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum for 15 years, Chair of the task force that created the Alberta Sports Plan, and as a Board member with Sports Central.

Orest’s work and achievements have been recognized over the years, with numerous honours bestowed including: Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Order of Merit and Recognition Award, Alberta Amateur Hockey Association Life Membership, Edmonton Minor Hockey Association Life Membership and Recognition Award, Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame inductee (1988), Edmonton Sport Hall of Fame inductee, City of Edmonton Achievement Award, Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2013) and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2013.

Hockey Alberta extends its deepest condolences to Orest’s wife of 63 years, Gertrude, and their family: children, Corrine (Fred), Therese, Greg (Stacey), Jackie (Michael); seven grandchildren; and one great grandson.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 10011-114 Street NW, Edmonton, AB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Orest’s memory to Edmonton Sports Central.

Administrator of the Year

AFHL Scholarship Winners

The Alberta Female Hockey League annually presents four scholarships; two to graduating players from the AFHL as well as two to young women currently attending post secondary and who are giving back to the game through coaching or officiating. All of these scholarships will be awarded to help off-set the costs of pursuing a post secondary degree at the institution of their choice.

The AFHL received an overwhelming response to the scholarship fund and recipients were chosen from an extremely deep pool of applicants. Finalists were chosen based on their strong academics, positive contribution to their team as well as their involvement with their community.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month for March is Kyle Johnson of Clive.

Kyle is currently the Head Coach of the Clive Initiation Blackhawks.

"This was actually my first year as a head coach," said Kyle. "Helping these kids develop a love for the game of hockey and contributing to their development is something I take very seriously. I had an awesome group of assistant coaches helping and our team did very well this season. It is an amazing gesture to be nominated for this type of award and I am very thankful."

"Kyle is all about the kids! What a great guy to have mentoring our Initiation aged kids," said the parent who nominated Kyle. "He makes a point of connecting with each child before a game or practice, and let’s them know that he’s so happy they’re there and he wishes them a great practice or game. His positivity radiates, and the kids just beam when he’s on the ice with them. He’s wonderful about making practices fun, but also explains to them the importance of the skills that they’re building. Fun is the top priority, but Kyle has worked hard to come up with practice plans that promote skill growth and fun. The kids are being equipped with the skills to move forward in a positive growth mindset, and having fun doing it. After each game Kyle will point out something that each child has done well, and shows the team how to celebrate each other’s successes and how together that adds up to the team having success as a group. Every child gets the same opportunity with Kyle, and he’s so proud of his little group and what they’ve achieved this season."

The full list of Albertans appearing in the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings can be found below:

North American Skaters

Final Rank

Player

Position

Last Amateur Club

League

14

Ty Smith

Defence

Spokane Chiefs

WHL

33

Jacob Bernard-Docker

Defence

Okotoks Oilers

AJHL

36

Jonathan Tychonick

Defence

Penticton Vees

BCHL

80

Riley Sutter

Right Wing

Everett Silvertips

WHL

92

Chase Wouters

Centre

Saskatoon Blades

WHL

108

Sean Comrie

Defence

Spruce Grove Saints

AJHL

110

Eric Florchuk

Centre

Saskatoon Blades

WHL

121

Cole Reinhardt

Left Wing

Brandon Wheat Kings

WHL

163

Josh Paterson

Right Wing

Saskatoon Blades

WHL

174

Austin Wong

Centre

Okotoks Oilers

AJHL

178

Kody McDonald

Right Wing

Prince Albert Raiders

WHL

185

Dylan Plouffe

Defence

Vancouver Giants

WHL

188

Jacob Herauf

Defence

Red Deer Rebels

WHL

197

Josh Prokop

Centre

Vernon Vipers

BCHL

208

Ben Sanderson

Left Wing

Okotoks Oilers

AJHL

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email info@hockeyalberta.ca.